Display sign



April 15, 1930.

w. P. WISE 1,754,871

DISPLAY SIGN Filed April 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwuentoz 1 April 15, 1930. w, P, m 1,751,871

DISPLAY SIGN Filed April 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuento'o $5 M QMR M' abtozneq Patented Apr. 15, 193Q UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM 1?. WISE, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 AUTOLUX SIGN COM- IPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS DISPLAY SIGN Application. filed April 2, 1929. Serial No. 352,018.

The present invention relates to signs and is more particularly concerned with that type of sign which is used for display purposes and which is designed to attract the attention of the observer b reason of unusual illuminative effects pro need by so disposing the sign characters or legend with respect to the source of illumination as to reflect light raysdirectly into the eye of the observer.

The primary object of the present invention is to produce a sign of this character which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, and which may be readily folded or collapsed for shipment or storage.

A further object of the invention is theproduction of a sign which may be formed of sheet material, preferably fibrous material such as cardboard, and which will rcquire a minimum of metal fastenings to secure the component parts in position for display purposes.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accom panying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of sign constructed in accordance with the principles of the presentinvention, the sign being shown in assembled position;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the support for the sign in a collapsed condition;

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Figure 5 is a plan View of one form of legend for use With the sign support shown in Figs. 8 and 4, and

Figure 6 is a plan view showing a preferred form of reflecting device.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sign comprises a support 10 and a legend 12, these elements being separately formed and being constructed so as to permit the assembly thereof without the use of separate fastening devices. Referring first to the support 10, it will be noted that this support includes four distinct portions, a base 13, a back 14 and a pair of side pieces 17 and 18 which are preferably hingedly connected to the back and are adapted to be swung forwardly for interlocking engagement with the base. The base and back are so constructed and arranged that they may be relatively flexed to divergent positions as shown in Fig. 1 so as to form a V-shaped support in which the legend may be placed. This construction may take the form illustrated in Figs. 3 and a of the drawing in which portions of the back and base are juxtaposed as shown at 21, and are retained against relative displacement by fastening devices 23, such as small rivets or eyelets, located toward the ends of the juxtaposed portions so as to provide a centrally disposed pocket or slot 2% for a purpose hereinafter described. In order tofacilitate the relative flexing of the base and back to cause them to diverge to the desired extent, the base is preferably creased on the line 25 adjacent the portion 21 thereof.

To provide for substantial rigidity of the assembled support, this invention contemplates the interlocking of the movable side pieces 17 and 18 with the base. As hereinbefore explained these side pieces are hingedly connected to the back at the opposite ends thereof and each side piece is preferably provided with a series of slots 26, adapted to receive portions 27 of the base, these portions being constructed for convenience in the form of projecting tabs which may be selectively introduced into corresponding slots. Each side piece is further provided with a segmental portion 30 having a series of slots 31 formed therein and adapt ed to receive end portions 33 of the legend, which may take the form of projecting tabs. A further projecting portion at the base of the legend is adapted for insertion in the pocket 24 of the support.

The base 13 of the support may be provided on its upper face with a light reflectin g surface, but the desired effect is preferably obtained by the use of a separate reflecting element 37, which consists of a flat, substantially rectangular piece of sheet material coated with foil or other reflecting material. This element may be laid on the base and retained thereon by the provision of a lip 39 formed at the forward edge of the base. Ky

providing foil of ditferent colors arranged in a pattern, novel and pleasing illuminating effects may be obtained.

The method of assembly and use of the device will now be apparent. The component parts of the sign may be stamped from sheet material such as cardboard, and are shipped in a flat, collapsed condition, the base of the sign being folded against the back for this purpose. The position which the sign will occupy for display purposes is so chosen that light from above, either from an artificial or natural source, will fall on the reflecting surface and will be directed against the sign characters. These characters are in turn provided with a surface for again reflecting the light and are so positioned that the light will be directed into the eye of the observer.

The back of the support forms a ground for the legend, and is preferably dark or light absor ent to intensify the optical eifect roduced by the reflecting sign characters. hen in assembled condition, the support is adapted to rest on the lower edges of the side pieces and the back, and by reason of the provision of the series of slots in the side pieces, the legend may be flexed about the projecting portion at the base thereof to any desired position of angular adjustment, and may be creased as at 42 adjacent this portion to facilitate flexing thereof. The base and the reflecting surface thereon may be similarly angularly adjusted so that the light ra s will travel substantially in. the path in icated by the arrows in Fig. 2 from the source of light to the eye of the observer. The novel optical effect is increased by inclining the legend forwardly of the ground so that the characters appear to stand alone. The resultant illumination of the characters is striking and serves to attract and hold the attention of an observer.

It will be understood that the invention is not restricted to the exact constructional details disclosed herein for the purpose of illustration, but may be modified as desired within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sign, the combination with a leg end, of a collapsible support for said legend formed of sheet material and comprising a base, a back serving as a ground for the legend hingedly connected to said base, and side pieces hingedly connected to the back and adapted to be swung forwardly for interlocking engagement with the base, each of said si e pieces being provided with a series of slots in which a portion of the adjacent end of the legend may be selectively inserted for retaini the latter in the desired position of angu ar adjustment with respect to the ground, the source of illumination, and the eye of the observer.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the base is provided with means for reflecting light from above against the legend.

3. In a sign, the combination with a legend of light reflecting material, of a collapsible support for said legend formed of sheet material and comprising a base provided with means for receiving light from above and directing the same against the legend, a back having a light absorbing surface adapted to serve as a ground for the legend, and side pieces hingedly connected to the back and adapted to be swung forwardly, each of said side pieces having a series of slots therein in which an adjacent portion of the base may be inserted to retain the latter in the desired position of angular adjustment with respect to the source of illumination and the legend,

said side pieces being further slotted to reeeive portions of the legend to support the latter in front of the light absorbing ground.

4. In a sign, the combination with a legend of light reflecting material, of a collapsible support for said legend formed of sheet material and comprising a base provided with means for receiving light from above and directing the same against the legend, a back having a light absorbing surface adapted to serve as a ground for the legend, and side pieces hingedly connected to the back and adapted to be swung forwardly, each of said side pieces having a series of slots therein in which an adjacent portion of the base may be inserted to retain the latter in the desired position of angular adjustment with respect to the source of illumination and the legend, and having a second series of slots therein in which an adjacent end portion of the legend may be selectively inserted to retain the latter in the desired position of angular adjustment with respect to the base and to the eye of the observer.

5. In a sign, the combination with a legend, of a collapsible support for said legend formed of sheet material and comprising a base and a back, portions of said base and back being juxtaposed and secured together adjacent the ends thereof and the remaining portions being relatively flexed apart, and side pieces for connecting the last mentioned portions of said base and back, said legend being provided with projecting portions for insertion between the juxtaposed portions of the base and back intermediate the ends thereof and for engagement with the side pieces for retaining the legend fixedly on the support.

6. In a sign, the combination with a light reflecting legend, of a support for said legend formed of sheet material and comprising a base and a. back, portions of said base and back being juxtaposed and secured together adjacent the ends thereof, the base being folded adjacent the juxtaposed portion thereof to cause the remaining portion of the base and back to diverge, side pieces hingedly connected to the back and adapted to be swung forwardly and to receive and support the base in the divergent position, said legend being provided with projecting portions for insertion between the juxtaposed portions of the base and back intermediate the ends thereof and for engagement with the side pieces for retaining the legend fixedly on the support, and means supported on the base for receiving light from above and directing the same against the legend.

7. In a sign, the combination with a light reflecting legend, of a collapsible support for said legend formed of fibrous sheet material and comprising a base and a back, port-ions of said base and back being juxtaposed and secured together adjacent the ends thereof, the base being folded adjacent the juxtaposed portion thereof to cause the remaining portion of the base and back to diverge, side pieces hingedly connected to the back and adapted to be swung forwardly, each of said side pieces having a series of slots therein, and the divergent portion of the base having tongues thereon for selective insertion in the slots to retain the base in the desired position of adjustment with respect to the back, said legend being provided with projecting portions for insertion between the juxtaposed portions of the base and back intermediate the ends thereof and for engage- 'ment with the side pieces for retaining the legend fixedly on the support, and a light reflecting device carried by said base for directing light against the legend.

8. In a sign, the combination with alegend of light reflecting material, of a collapsible support for said legend formed of sheet material and comprising a back serving as a ground for the legend, and side pieces hingedly connected to the back and adapted to be swung forwardly therefrom, said legend being provided with portions adapted to engage with said side pieces for retaining the legend in various positions of angular adjustment forwardly of the back of said support, whereby the legend may be positioned so as to reflect light therefrom directly into the eye of an observer.

9. In a sign, the combination with a collapsible support formed of sheet material and comprising a back serving as a ground, a legend disposed adjacent the back, side pieces hingedly connected to the back and adapted to be swung forwardly therefrom, reflecting means constructed for engagement with said side pieces to retain the latter in forwardly extended position, said reflecting means being angularly adjustable with respect to said side pieces and back whereby the same may be so positioned as to direct light against the legend.

10. In a sign, the combination with a collapsible support formed of sheet material and comprising a back serving as a ground, side pieces hingedly connected to the back and adapted to be swung forwardly therefrom, reflecting means having a portion thereof adapted to interlock with said side pieces to retain the latter in spaced relation in the forwardly extended position, and means for support-ing a light reflecting legend intermediate said back and said reflecting means, said means beingangularly adjustable with respect to said side pieces and back whereby light may be directed against said legend and reflected thereby into the eye of an observer.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM P. WISE. 

